Scallops With Fennel Food

FRIED SCALLOPS WITH BIBB AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 2 inches vegetable oil (about 3 1/2 cups) in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F. Soak the sliced fennel in a bowl of ice water; set aside.
• Toss the scallops with 1/2 cup buttermilk and a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl; set aside. Make the dressing: Puree the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil with the parsley, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender until smooth; set aside. Mix the cornmeal, flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a shallow baking dish.
• Drain the scallops from the buttermilk, dredge in the cornmeal mixture to coat and transfer to a plate. Fry the scallops in two batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet; season with salt. Return the oil to 375 degrees F between batches.
• Drain the fennel and pat dry with paper towels. Combine the fennel, lettuce, radishes and chives in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss; season with salt and pepper. Divide the salad among bowls and top with the scallops and fennel fronds.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat; pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook scallops on one side until browned, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer to a plate.
• Add fennel and onion and season with salt and pepper; cook until tender, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in clam juice, wine, and tomatoes and cook until enough liquid evaporates to slightly thicken, 6 to 8 minutes more.
• Return scallops, browned side up, and cook through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rub baguette slices with garlic and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
• Sprinkle scallops with reserved fennel fronds and serve with baguette slices.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH FENNEL PUREE

Steps:

• Sear scallops If necessary, remove the small, tough muscle (called the adductor) found on the side of the scallops (often the fishmonger will have removed it), then slice each scallop in half horizontally so that you have twelve pieces. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Season scallops on both sides with salt. When pan is hot, add enough oil to coat bottom of pan (about 1 tablespoon), and swirl to coat evenly. Working in batches to avoid crowding pan, add scallops and quickly jerk the pan to keep them from sticking. Sear until lightly golden, about 45 seconds; with an offset spatula, turn over and cook until opaque throughout, about 30 seconds more (be careful not to turn too soon or the scallops may tear). Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and cover to keep warm (if necessary). Repeat with more oil and remaining scallops.
• Serve Heat fennel puree in a small saucepan over medium heat until warm. Spoon 1 tablespoon puree onto each of 12 small plates and top with a scallop slice. Garnish with fennel fronds, and serve.

CAJUN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ROASTED ONION AND FENNEL CONSOMME

Steps:

• For the broth: In a sauce pot, melt butter. Add onion and caramelize. Set aside. To sauce pot, add sliced fennel and sweat until very soft. Next, add carrot, bay leaves, Juniper berries, thyme, caramelized onion, and broth. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for approximately 1 hour. Strain through a cheesecloth. Season with salt and pepper. In a strainer, add julienned vegetables to broth. Simmer for 3 minutes. Reserve vegetables and broth separately.
• For the dish: Dredge the scallops in the Cajun spice. Sear in olive oil on all sides on high heat until scallops are just cooked through. Place half of the scallops in a circle in the middle of a 9 inch bowls.
• In the middle of the circle, place julienne vegetables. Spoon warm broth gently over vegetables until bowl is filled by one-third. Garnish with asparagus tips and roasted garlic cloves. Finish garnish with fennel tops. Repeat with other bowl.

BAY SCALLOPS WITH FENNEL, ENDIVE AND ROSEMARY-ORANGE CARAMEL GLAZE

Steps:

• Melt sugar in medium sauté pan over high heat. When sugar colors around edges, add a piece of rosemary, and stir until sugar is light golden-brown.
• Stand back, and stir in vinegar; caramel will spatter. When vinegar evaporates, stir in juice and simmer. Reduce by half; sauce should lightly coat a spoon. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Toss scallops with salt, pepper and flour. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick sauté pan over high heat until pan starts to smoke. Shake off excess flour from scallops, and put them in pan with remaining rosemary. Brown 1 minute, turn scallops over, add 1/2 tablespoon butter, and brown 1 to 2 minutes more; transfer to a warm plate.
• Return pan to medium heat, and add remaining butter along with fennel and endive. Season with salt and pepper, cover, and cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan until vegetables soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Return scallops to pan, and add glaze. Stir everything together for just a minute, taste for salt and pepper, and discard rosemary. Divide among four warm shallow soup plates; serve immediately.

GLAZED SEA SCALLOPS WITH BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• Cut the fennel into quarters and steam it until it is just tender (about 15 minutes).
• Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a heavy skillet and add the fennel. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper and cook it, stirring occasionally, until it is slightly browned on all sides.
• Soften the shallots and the garlic in the remaining olive oil in a large, heavy skillet. Saute the scallops in two batches over high heat, browning them lightly on both sides. Remove them to a warm bowl.
• Add the orange juice, balsamic vinegar and rosemary leaves. Scrape up the cooking juices and simmer them until you have a light glaze. Pour the sauce over the scallops and toss them. Correct seasoning and serve.

GRILLED SEA SCALLOPS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high. In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons oil with the lemon juice and liqueur, if using. Add scallops, and toss to coat. Slide scallops horizontally onto small skewers (about 6 on each). Season with salt and pepper.
• Place skewers on grill. Grill, rotating, until scallops are golden outside and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from grill.
• Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise, and slice lengthwise again into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Toss with remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil, and grill, turning, until fennel just wilts and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove scallops from skewers. Serve warm.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH GRAPEFRUIT-FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Pat scallops dry and add to the hot pan; sear until caramelized, 6 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway.
• While scallops are cooking, peel, skin, and slice grapefruit. Slice fennel thinly, reserving a few fronds. Place grapefruit, fennel, fronds, and spinach in a large bowl.
• Prepare dressing by mixing remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, shallot, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl.
• Add seared scallops to the salad and mix to combine. Drizzle dressing over top.